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Computer Self-help Resources

FAQs, documentation & advice

Health & Medical | Computer Basics | Internet | Security | Microsoft Windows
Other Operating Systems | Software | Website Design
About these Resources | Requesting Help | Site Linking Guidelines

Phone calls from a “technical support” person saying that you have a problem with your computer are scams. Just hang up.
Vishing (phone) and phishing (email) scams are designed to steal from you.

Health & Medical

• Reliable COVID-19 information
• Consumer medical resources
• Renal transplants & organ donation

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Computer Basics

Terminology

• Terminology
• Basic network terminology

Tips & Technologies

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Clean up your devices
• Safely disposing of computers & devices
• How to do a screen capture
• The changing nature of computing

Networks

• Home Networking
• Sharing files on a network

Connection Issues

• Apps that can't connect
• Firewalls: Your first line of defense
• Troubleshooting Internet connections

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Internet

• The “Cloud”
• Search engines & databases
• Copyright: who owns content on the Internet?
• Verifying information

The Internet at Risk

• Google's monopoly
• The open Internet at risk
  • End Canada's telecom monopolies.
  • Unlock cheaper cell phone rates.
• Canadian legislation
  • Canadian content rules (CanCon).
  • Bill C-11: Online Streaming Act.
  • Bill C-18 Online News Act.
  • Bill C-26: Cybersecurity Act.
  • Bill C-27: Consumer Privacy Protection Act.
  • Bill C-51: The Anti-Terrorism Act
  • Bill C-63: The Online Harms Act
  • Bill S-210: Anti-Pornography Act.

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Security

• Preventing unauthorized access
  • Stop and think
  • Key elements of security
  • Critical popup warnings that won't go away
• Security strategies
  • Blended threats
  • Zero-day exploits
  • Avoid security pitfalls
  • Prepare for recovery
  • Use email wisely
  • Avoid social engineering
• Security policies
  • Business computers
  • Home computers
  • Family security agreement
  • Servicing your computers
• Data inheritance
  • Passwords
  • Electronic Records
  • Social Media Accounts
  • Business Accounts
  • Legal Documents
• Safer browsing
  • Choose a safer browser
  • Browser settings
  • Use encrypted (HTTPS) sites where possible
  • Tracking your browser
• Social media
  • Choose carefully
  • Check your privacy settings
  • Social media for business

Passwords & Management

• Passwords: protecting your electronic signature
• Single sign-on flawed
• Password managers
• The LastPass security breach
• Multifactor authentication

Identity Theft, Phishing, Vishing & Spam

• Identity theft — obtaining information by deceit
  • Report identity theft
  • Privacy and DNA
  • Think before posting on social media
• Computer & “tech support” scams
  • Phone numbers listed in error messages
• Vishing: scamming by phone
  • CRA scams
  • Other financial scams
  • “Grandparent” scams
  • CallerID can be faked
  • Fake phone numbers
  • Scammer tricks
• Phishing: scamming by email
  • Spear phishing uses personal information
  • Catfishing: using someone else's identity
  • How phishing works
  • Blackmailed Online?
  • Unmasking fake links
  • Short links (URLs)
• Spam: unsolicited email & mailing lists
  • Locating email headers

Protecting Your Privacy

• Your privacy at risk
• Data breaches reveal personal data
• Restoring your privacy
• The surveillance economy
• Smart devices are watching you
• Securing your mobile devices
• Encryption: protecting your data
• Policies to protect your computers & network
• Think before posting on social media
• Safer browsing
• VPNs

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Microsoft Windows

Windows Basics

• Windows: an overview
• Windows basics — general concepts & terminology
• Troubleshooting Microsoft services

Current (Supported) Versions

• Windows 11 (no official end of support)
• Windows 10 (October 14, 2025)
• Replacing Windows: upgrading when support ends

Recovering Your Windows Installation

• Backup & recovery strategies
• Cloud backup services
• Windows Recovery
• Troubleshooting hardware issues

Legacy (Unsupported) Windows

Support has expired for these versions and they are unsafe to use.

• Windows 8.1 Legacy
• Windows 7 Legacy
• Windows Vista Legacy
• Windows XP Legacy

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Alternatives to Windows

• Linux — distributions, desktops & documentation
• macOS: information, software & troubleshooting
• Chromebooks
• ArcaOS
• eComStation
• IBM OS/2 Legacy
• Dual-booting, partitions & file systems Legacy
• Java cross-platform environment Legacy

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Software

Recommended Software

• Recommended software: useful & reliable programs
  • Internet | PDF | Graphics | VLC Player
  • Office Suites | Editors | Utilities
• Updating: dealing with obsolescence
• Subscription services
• SaaS: Software as a Service
• Artificial Intelligence
• Able2Extract Pro 19
• Web browsers
  • Browser downloads
  • Choosing a browser
  • Customize your browser
  • Stop autoplay in browsers
• Browser extensions
• Browser plugins are vulnerable Legacy
• Email software
  • Recommended email clients
  • Webmail
  • Email settings
  • Email protocols
• Video conferencing software: virtual online meetings
• Joining a Webex meeting
• Shareware & freeware: definitions & sources

Security Software

• Security software: evaluations & solutions
  • Recommended security solutions
  • Evaluating security software
• ZoneAlarm security products
• Kaspersky security products
• Malware: detection & removal
  • Critical warning popups that won't go away
  • Keyloggers
  • Stalkerware
• Ransomware: holding your digital life for ransom
• Vulnerabilities in Internet software
  • Browser weaknesses
  • Email weaknesses
  • Plugin vulnerabilities
• Firewalls: your first line of defense
  • Firewall basics
  • Routers
  • Testing your firewall
• Windows vulnerabilities
• Mobile security — vulnerabilities in mobile devices
  • SIM card fraud
  • Virtual assistants invade privacy
  • Phone scams

Email Issues

• Email troubleshooting
• Safer email
• Effective email newsletters
• Correctly using To, CC & BCC
• Spam: unsolicited emails and mailing lists
• Phishing: email scams

Web Browser Issues

• Safer browsing
• Vulnerabilities in Internet software
• Stop autoplay in browsers
• Browser troubleshooting
• Can't see new website content?
• Safer browsing

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Website Design

Building a Website

• Web Design Primer
• HTML5: Improved web technologies
• HTML, JavaScript, SEO & standards
• Illustrating websites: effective graphics & stock photos
• Cut 'n paste HTML editing

Design Issues

• Responsive web design
• Web design ethics: responsible e-commerce

The power of CSS

These are two identical pages except that CSS is disabled in the second example:

• Alice with CSS
• Alice without CSS (the display issues are intentional)